Traction treatments may worsen your spinal problems

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Traction treatments may worsen your spinal problems.

One of the techniques physiotherapists usually use for treating spinal
problems is traction. "Aggravations of the conditions of the patients due to
traction do occur in some cases and it was reported in one study that the
conditions of 10% to 29% of the patients, who received traction treatments,
were worse after traction while only 24% to 30% of the patients were
better." (pg. 174 and pg. 175 of Reference 1). It is also stated that
traction as a rule should not be administered until complete workup has been
carried out, a definitive diagnosis has been made, and specific indications
for traction has been established. Complete workup consists of a careful
history, physical examination, and diagnostic radiographies of the spine,
with anterior/posterior, lateral, and oblique views. (pg. 187 to 188 and pg.
191 of Reference 1 in which some of the contraindications for traction are
stated.)

Some other medical experts also think that the effectiveness of traction is
dubious and/or it cannot be satisfactorily proved that traction does help to
relieve slipped-discs problems, which are spinal problems. Some say that
there are contraindications for traction.(pg. 238 and pg. 239 of Reference
2) It is suggested that many traction methods have one or more of the
shortcomings, which were listed in Pg. 211 of Reference 2.

However, I should point out that, in cases of bone fractures, traction
treatments may be necessary.

Reference 1.: "Manipulation, Traction and Massage", 3rd Edition, edited by
John Butler and Joyce Murphy

Reference 2.: "Mobilisation of the Spine", 4th edition 1984, reprinted 1986,
author: Grieve, Gregory P.

cc. Dr. David Fang (Brother of Mrs. Anson Chan, former Chief Secretary of
the Hong Kong Government) and his uncle
Mr. Leung Siu Man, Thomas